U.S. patent number 7,281,750 [Application Number 11/619,105] was granted by the patent office on 2007-10-16 for self-adjusting motorcycle windshield.
Invention is credited to Michael Lester Wise.
United States Patent |
7,281,750 |
Wise |
October 16, 2007 |
Self-adjusting motorcycle windshield
Abstract
A motorcycle comprises a chassis, a windshield attached to the
chassis, and a speed sensor operative to determine instantaneous
speeds of the motorcycle as the motorcycle travels. In addition,
the motorcycle further comprises a position table and a windshield
positioning device. The position table associates windshield
positions in relation to the chassis with respective speeds of the
motorcycle. The windshield positioning device is operative to move
the windshield to the windshield positions associated in the
position table with the instantaneous speeds of the motorcycle
determined by the speed sensor.
Inventors: |
Wise; Michael Lester
(Lagrangeville, NY) |
Family
ID: |
38577719 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/619,105 |
Filed: |
January 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
60829174 |
Oct 12, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/78.1;
280/288.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J
17/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62J
17/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;296/84.1,78.1,89
;280/288.4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3609595 |
|
Sep 1987 |
|
DE |
|
402175389 |
|
Jul 1999 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
"Kawasaki ZZR-X Sport Touring `concept`", metricbikes.com, printed
from the internet Jun. 9, 2007. cited by examiner .
"Concept cars: Kawasaki ZZR", disno-art.com, printed from the
internet Jun. 9, 2007. cited by examiner.
|
Primary Examiner: Morrow; Jason S
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/829,174, filed Oct. 12, 2006.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A motorcycle, the motorcycle comprising: a chassis; a
windshield, the windshield attached to the chassis; a speed sensor,
the speed sensor operative to determine instantaneous speeds of the
motorcycle as the motorcycle travels; a position table, the
position table associating windshield positions in relation to the
chassis with respective speeds of the motorcycle; and a windshield
positioning device, the windshield positioning device operative to
move the windshield to the windshield positions associated in the
position table with the instantaneous speeds of the motorcycle
determined by the speed sensor; wherein a rider of the motorcycle
at least partially programs the position table.
2. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein a rider of the motorcycle at
least partially programs the position table using a user-operated
control on the motorcycle, the user-operated control operative to
cause the windshield positioning device to move the windshield.
3. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the speed sensor comprises at
least one of a speedometer and a global positioning system
device.
4. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the motorcycle further
comprises a memory, the memory operative to store the position
table.
5. The motorcycle of claim 4, wherein the memory comprises a
read-only memory, a flash memory, or a random-access memory.
6. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the windshield positioning
device comprises a motor.
7. The motorcycle of claim 6, wherein the motor comprises a
digitally controlled stepper motor.
8. The motorcycle of claim 6, wherein the motor is at least
partially controlled by a digital microcontroller.
9. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the windshield positioning
device is operative to change at least one of a height and an angle
of the windshield in relation to the chassis.
10. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the position table is
operative to store entries associated with a first rider and
entries associated with a second rider.
11. An apparatus for adjusting the position of a windshield
attached to a chassis of a motorcycle, the motorcycle comprising a
speed sensor operative to determine instantaneous speeds of the
motorcycle as the motorcycle travels, the apparatus comprising: a
position table, the position table associating windshield positions
in relation to the chassis with respective speeds of the
motorcycle; and a windshield positioning device, the windshield
positioning device operative to move the windshield to the
windshield positions associated in the position table with the
instantaneous speeds of the motorcycle determined by the speed
sensor; wherein a rider of the motorcycle at least partially
programs the position table.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a rider of the motorcycle at
least partially programs the position table using a user-operated
control on the motorcycle, the user-operated control operative to
cause the windshield positioning device to move the windshield.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the windshield positioning
device is operative to change at least one of a height and an angle
of the windshield in relation to the chassis.
14. A method of positioning a windshield attached to a chassis of a
motorcycle, the motorcycle comprising a speed sensor operative to
determine instantaneous speeds of the motorcycle as the motorcycle
travels, the method comprising the steps of: associating in a
position table windshield positions in relation to the chassis with
respective speeds of the motorcycle; and moving the windshield to
the windshield positions associated in the position table with the
instantaneous speeds of the motorcycle determined by the speed
sensor; wherein the step of associating windshield positions in
relation to the chassis with respective speeds of the motorcycle in
the position table is at least partially performed by a rider of
the motorcycle.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of associating
windshield positions in relation to the chassis with respective
speeds of the motorcycle in the position table is at least
partially performed by a rider of the motorcycle using a
user-operated control on the motorcycle, the user-operated control
operative to cause the windshield positioning device to move the
windshield.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of moving the
windshield to the windshield positions associated in the position
table with the instantaneous speeds of the motorcycle determined by
the speed sensor comprises changing at least one of a height and an
angle of the windshield in relation to the chassis.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to motorcycles, and,
more particularly, to adjustable windshields in motorcycles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many modern motorcycles comprise windshields (also called
windscreens) that are positioned in front of the rider. Such
windshields reduce the amount of wind impacting the rider while the
motorcycle is in motion, often making the riding of the motorcycle
less fatiguing for the rider. Moreover, motorcycle windshields may
further act to protect the rider from other elements such as flying
insects, rain, and road debris.
The aerodynamics of wind impinging on a windshield change
significantly as a function of the speed at which the motorcycle is
traveling. As a result, many modern motorcycle manufacturers have
created motorcycles with windshields that may be adjusted in height
and/or angle by the rider via an electric motor connected to a
rider-operated switch. The 2006-model-year BMW K1200GT and Honda
ST1300 ABS motorcycles, for example, comprise such electrically
adjustable windshields.
A rider on one of these conventional types of motorcycles may
desire to frequently adjust the position of the windshield as the
rider's speed changes. The rider may, for example, wish to adjust
the position of the windshield to have some amount of wind
impinging on the rider's body during slow travel to aid in cooling
the rider. However, at higher speed, this same windshield position
may allow so much wind to impinge on the rider that the rider
becomes uncomfortable or fatigued. As a result, the rider will
desire to manipulate the position of the windshield as the rider's
speed changes. Unfortunately, such an operation may need to be
performed frequently as the motorcycle speed changes due to, for
example, road conditions or traffic. What is more, such an
operation, when performed through a rider-operated switch, may be
distracting to the rider. The moving of a windshield in the
conventional manner may, as a result, increase the rider's workload
and reduce rider safety.
As a result, there is a need for a motorcycle windshield that can
be adjusted for varying speed conditions without requiring that the
rider frequently operate a manual switch.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention address the above-identified
need by providing a motorcycle that comprises a windshield that can
be adjusted for varying speed conditions without requiring that the
rider frequently operate a manual switch.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a motorcycle
comprises a chassis, a windshield attached to the chassis, and a
speed sensor operative to determine instantaneous speeds of the
motorcycle as the motorcycle travels. In addition, the motorcycle
further comprises a position table and a windshield positioning
device. The position table associates windshield positions in
relation to the chassis with respective speeds of the motorcycle.
The windshield positioning device is operative to move the
windshield to the windshield positions associated in the position
table with the instantaneous speeds of the motorcycle determined by
the speed sensor.
In accordance with one of the above-identified embodiments of the
invention, a motorcycle is operative to travel at different speeds.
The motorcycle comprises a chassis, a windshield attached to the
chassis, and a speed sensor operative to determine the present
speed of the motorcycle. In addition, the motorcycle comprises a
motor that is operative to adjust the position of the windshield
(e.g., height and angle) in relation to the chassis, and a position
table. The position table relates preferred windshield positions to
different speeds. As the motorcycle travels, the motor changes the
position of the windshield as a function of the present speed of
the motorcycle in accordance with the position table.
Advantageously, this allows the windshield to be automatically
repositioned as the motorcycle changes speed.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description which
is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a motorcycle in accordance with
an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a windshield control apparatus in
the FIG. 1 motorcycle embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart for positioning a windshield in the FIG.
1 motorcycle embodiment.
FIG. 4 shows an illustrative position table in the FIG. 1
motorcycle embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described with reference to
illustrative embodiments. For this reason, numerous modifications
can be made to these embodiments and the results will still come
within the scope of the invention. No limitations with respect to
the specific embodiments described herein are intended or should be
inferred.
The term "motorcycle" as used herein is intended to encompass any
two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine and/or motor.
FIG. 1 shows a motorcycle 100 in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment of the invention. The motorcycle comprises a chassis
110. Coupled to the chassis is a windshield 120. The motorcycle
also comprises a number of other elements that will be familiar to
one skilled in the art but are not explicitly labeled in FIG. 1
because they are not necessary for the understanding of the subject
matter of the invention. These other elements include an engine,
suspension, transmission, wheels, tires, brakes, instruments,
electrical system, lights, seat and rider controls.
The windshield 120 is operative to be configured into various
different positions. Each windshield position comprises some
combination of height and angle relative to the chassis 110. FIG. 2
shows a block diagram of elements within the motorcycle 100
associated with the positioning of the windshield. The motorcycle
includes a speed sensor 210, a rider-operated switch 220, a motor
controller 230, a position table 240, and a windshield positioning
motor 250.
The speed sensor 210 provides an indication to the motor controller
230 of the present speed (i.e., the instantaneous speed) of the
motorcycle. The speed sensor may be, for example, a conventional
analog or digital speedometer or, alternatively, a global
positioning system operative to determine the motorcycle's speed.
The motor controller, in turn, is preferably an electronic
component that controls the windshield positioning motor 250 in
accordance with the rider-operated switch 220 or the position table
240, described in greater detail below. Finally, the windshield
positioning motor is preferably an electric motor coupled to the
windshield 120 and operative to move the windshield in both height
and angle in relation to the chassis 110.
One skilled in the art will recognize how an electric motor may be
implemented in the motorcycle 100 to move the windshield 120. As
stated before, such electric motors are conventionally used in
several modern, commercially-available motorcycles. The windshield
positioning motor 250 may, for example, comprise a digitally
controlled stepper motor. The motor controller 230, in turn, will
preferably comprise conventional digital circuitry operative to
send electrical signals to the electromagnets in the stepper motor
and allow the stepper motor to move in a precise, reproducible
manner. The motor controller may, for example, comprise a digital
microcontroller.
FIG. 3 shows an illustrative process flow that allows the elements
in FIG. 2 to position the windshield 120 in accordance with aspects
of this invention. Step 310 comprises programming the position
table 240. In such a step, the rider preferably rides the
motorcycle 100 at different speeds and adjusts the windshield to
the rider's preferred positions at the different speeds using the
rider-operated switch 220. The rider operated-switch, in turn, is
connected to the motor controller 230 which commands the windshield
positioning motor 250 to move the windshield in accordance with the
rider's inputs.
As the rider is positioning the windshield 120 at various speeds
via the rider-operated switch 220, a preferred windshield position
is associated by the motor controller 230 with the various speeds
returned by the speed sensor 210. These preferred windshield
positions and associated speeds are stored in the position table
240. FIG. 4 shows an example of various entries in the position
table (where a given windshield position is represented by a
letter). The table, may for example, record the preferred position
of the windshield at every 2 mile-per-hour increment, although this
is entirely arbitrary and other increments would still come within
the scope of the invention. The position table, itself, may be
integrated in the motor controller or may be a discrete device. The
position table, may, for example, be implemented in a conventional
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), flash
memory or random-access memory (RAM), all of which will be familiar
to one skilled in the art.
Once programmed in this way, the motorcycle 100 enters a mode in
which the windshield 120 is automatically adjusted to the rider's
preferred positions as the motorcycle changes speed without the
rider having to move the windshield via the rider-operated switch
220. This automated positioning sequence is represented in FIG. 3
by steps 320-340. In step 320, the speed sensor 210 measures the
speed at which the motorcycle is presently traveling and outputs
that speed to the motor controller 230. In step 330, the motor
controller addresses the position table 240 with the present speed.
The position table, in turn, returns the preferred windshield
position associated with the speed entry nearest the present speed.
Finally, in step 340, the motor controller commands the windshield
positioning motor 250 to adjust the windshield to the position
returned by the position table.
Accordingly, once in the automated positioning sequence, the rider
is no longer required to operate the rider-operated switch 220 in
order to maintain the windshield 120 at the rider's preferred
positions as the rider changes speed. The rider is, therefore, left
to concentrate on other aspects of riding the motorcycle while
enjoying the benefits of an adjustable windshield.
The sequence of steps 320-340 is preferably repeated as long as the
motorcycle 100 is in operation. If, however, during this automated
sequence, the rider decides that a windshield position different
from that programmed into the position table 240 is desired, the
rider may preferably reenter the programming step 310 by, for
example, merely pushing the rider-operated switch 220. Once back in
step 310, the rider may change some or all of the entries in the
position table before reentering the automated positioning sequence
(i.e., steps 320-340).
Optionally, the position table 240 may have separate entries for
more than one rider. Advantageously, this would allow two or more
riders to ride the same motorcycle and have preferred windshield
entries that are customized to each rider's preferences.
It is to be understood that, although illustrative embodiments of
the present invention have been described herein with reference to
the accompanying figures, the invention is not limited to those
precise embodiments. One skilled in the art will recognize various
other changes and modifications that may be made without departing
from the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *